Rug stretcher



Sept. 20, 1949. G HUFF 2,482,186

RUG STRETCHER Filed July 5, 1947 Patented Sept. 20, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT (IFFICEv RUG STRETCHER Glenn L. Huff, San Diego, Calif.

Application July 5, 1947, Serial No. 759,028

1 Claim. 1

My invention relates to a rug stretcher more particularly for use in connection with cleaning and sizing operations performed on rugs and the like, and the objects of my invention are:

First, to provide a rug stretcher of this class which employs very simple means for attaching the rub thereto whereby considerable time is saved in connecting the rug to the stretcher.

Second, to provide a rug stretcher of this class which stretches a rug evenly throughout its entire length.

Third, to provide a rug stretcher of this class which maintains the same in at contiguous relationship with a flat surfaced object.

Fourth, to provide a rug stretcher of this class which automatically holds the rug in stretched position for any length of time desired.

Fifth, to provide a rug stretcher of this class having novel fairlead and bracket support means for controlling the retracting cables thereof whereby said fairleads may be positioned on the edge of a board or on the upper surface thereof as desired.

Sixth, to provide a rug stretcher of this class Which insures the maintenance of a rug shape and size when said rug is cleaned, and

Seventh, to provide a rug stretcher of this class which is very simple and economical of construction, eicient in operation, and which will not readily deteriorate or get out of order.

With these and other objects in view, as will appear hereinafter, my invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claim, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the characters of reference thereon forming a part of this application in which: Figure 1 is a top or plan view of my rug stretcher, Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view thereof taken from the line 2 2 of Figure 1, and Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken from the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts and portions throughout the several views of the drawing.

The board I, strap 2, bar 3, cables 4 and 5, fairleads 6 and 1, brackets 8 and 9, drum I0, ratchet Wheel II, ratchet pawl I2, crank I3, and

drum frame I4 constitute the principal parts and portions of my rug stretcher.

The board I is a substantially flat, smoothsurfaced board upon which my rug stretcher is installed. This board may be in the form of a platform, floor, Wall or other similar surface as desired. For example, my rug stretcher may be installed in connection with a vertical wall, the floor of a room or the like but is preferably in.- stalled in connection with a moveable board, or open frame platform, for convenience of handling. The strap 2 and the bar 3 are each provided with upwardly projecting spike portions arranged to extend through the border of a rug for engaging same. The strap 2 is provided with upwardly extending spike portions 2a similar to the spike portions 3a of the bar 3 as shown in Figure 3 of the drawing. It will be noted that the strap 2 is secured to the board I by means of screws 2b and that the bar 3 is movable over the surface of the board I and connected to the cables 4 and '5 by means of the connection clips 3b and 3c respectively. These cables 5 pass through fairleads 6 and 1 which are conventional self aligning fairleads and these fairleads 6 and 1 are secured to the brackets 8 and 9 respectively which are fixed on the board I as shown best in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawing. These brackets 8 and 9 are substantially identical in form except that they are opposite hand arranged to be fitted to opposite ends of the board I in opposed relationship to each other. The bracket 9 as shown in Figure 3 of the drawing is provided with intersecting angular surfaces 9a and 9b arranged to support the bracket 1a of the fairlead 1 in different positions substantially degrees apart whereby the bracket 9 may be connected to either the side or the edge of a board for properly holding the fairlead 1 in certain parallel relationship with the surface of the board I. The varying position at the edge of the board is illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawing by dash lines. The drum frame I4 is secured to the upper surface of the board as shown in Figure 2 of the drawing or may be secured to the edge thereof in alignment with the bracket as shown by dash lines in Figure 3 of the drawing. This drum frame I4 supports the drum I 0 in connection with the board which is provided With separate winding spools Illa and Ib arranged to receive the cables 4 and 5 separately. The ratchet wheel II is fixed in connection with the drum at the outer side of the drum frame I4 and the ratchet pawl I2 is pivoted to the drum frame I4 by means of the pin I2a and engages the teeth Ila of the ratchet wheel II preventing said ratchet wheel II from rotating in a counter clockwise direction. Fixed to the drum I0 is the crank I3 arranged to rotate the drum I0 within the drum frame I4 for winding the cables 4 and 5 on the spool portions Illa and I0b whereby opposite ends of the bar 3 may be evenly retracted from the strap 2.

TheV operation of my rug stretcher is substantially as follows: When it is desired to stretch a rug, clean a rug or to size the same, one edge of the rug is connected to the spikes 2a of the strap 2. The opposite edge of the rug is connected to the spike portions 3a of the bar 3. When the crank I3 is rotated in a clockwise direction rotatedlyvoprating the drum ID and windingrithe cables 4 Aand 5'thereon'in separate relationship from each other on the spool portions 10a, and 10b of said drum I0. This causes the cables 4 and 5 to pass through the fairleads 6 and 1 :respectively which direct the cables 4 and 5 in substantially a direction at right angles from-which vthey pull the bar 3. The ratchet pawl 42 engages the teethY l la of the ratchet Wheel l l maintaining the same from rotation in the counter clockwisefdirection thus the drum lil is held in certain position whhlihvclblesi aind z5 farewnund tight stretch- 5iiig the'fruglbetween thestirap -2 -=and ba'r 3. When 'arugis 'cleanedV it iis permitted-to dry 'in connecto the rugsstretoher in its stretched relabetween th'e -sti-ap 1.2 I'and bar f3 or a rug'may Sb'ef'stretchedIbeyond'iits norma'l size and permitted (tb retract-'itc its normal size :after it has shrunk. lfhelbrackts .i8 Ia-r'idt 7inay be positioned on the edge-@f thefboard I `if k-lesired l'as 'shov-mby dash -n's in 'iFg'ure '13 of lthe drawing land the drum lrameillmay be lik'ewise positioned on the edge the'boar'd lit'o al-i'gniwith the vfairleads 6 and vhei im connection 'with the brackets 'fa' andfs.

it winne-'netas that :during .the shifting: of the einem mesme ofthe board to the f Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combination and arrangement of parts andportions, I do not Wish to be limited to this particular construction, combination and arrangement, Fout desire to includerin the scope of my invention the construction, combination and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claim.

Havingthus described my invention, what I claim as fnevv, and des' 5e `to 'secure Eby' Letters Patent is: V*

In a rug stretcher of the class described; the "combination of a stationary strap having a pluralityscif extending spikes, a movable bar laterally adjustable relatively to .Said strap having a pluiralityfofeitending spikes, said spikes on said strap fandisaidbar. arranged to penetrate the edge of a rug, cables in connection with said bar and for retracting said cables laterally thereof, fairlead means having base portions and support- -ing=said :cables inspaced relati-onshipito':saidliban sai-d Yfretrac'ting means including fa drnrngand crank, ratchet means .in connection said drumrfandicrank fer. holdingisai'd cable and. said dearainnertainopositcn after retraction irelativlely said-sstrap, and-'brackets having two :separate i-iiairleadsfsuppmiting baseszsangularlyfdisposed to eachother :and intersectin'g and isnpnorting ssaid :Eadeammeans 'on/said :angular Jca'se portions,

Y GLENNffLa-HUEF.

REFERENCES CITED Y "The f-ollowing freere'n'ce's lare `of "record ins-the le of this patenti .STAPLES PATENTS Y 

